Keeping It Fresh

It has been a long while since I have posted anything remotely close to old school electronic music. So I thought, why not today? Today's song brings back memories of driving in a car late at night, cruising with the windows down and enjoying the moment. This song transports us back to a different time in electronic music. It takes us back over 10 years ago, to the beginnings of progressive house. This song has been remixed by Adam K & Soha and takes on a completely different genre compared to the original. The original version is by Ercoa and Heikki, and the roots of the track can be found in drum & bass and a bit of house. However, today's remixed version takes on progressive house vibe. The remix is more subdued, softening up some of the more intense parts of the original and amplifying the melody. A lot of times with progressive house, the song is more about the melody and the atmosphere rather than bass and beats. We definitely hear that in this track, with the ...

Today I have some new music for you by DJ that has consistently been tearing up the charts. Now I'm not talking within the past year two but over the past seven or eight years. Alesso has made a name for himself, with not only remixes but also incredible original tracks featuring incredible vocalists and producer is across all genres and music types. The song, in particular, is one of his newer tracks and it is one that I was hooked on from the first listen. So let's talk briefly about Alesso as an artist. He has done so much and his music style has progressed and changed over time. Obviously, this is to be expected from an artist, and Alesso's growth has been in a direction that is very different and interesting for the ears. But there's something to be said about a kind of consistency which can be heard in his music. He never really strays too far from Progressive house sounds or just house in general. And what is nice about Alesso is that it never feels like he...

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it has been a very long time since I last posted. But I'm really happy to be back and I have honestly missed writing about music so much. And to kick things off I wanted to go ahead and start with one of the newer symbols by Disclosure which recently came out. Let's get right into it! Disclosure is very well known for having really catchy beats and complex harmonies and melodies. Fortunately for us, that doesn't change with their newer single and in fact, the duo takes on a very interesting type of sound in this track. We don't normally get to hear Disclosure go for something a little bit more old school so this is a very nice fresh change and it's a sound that works really well with Disclosure's style.  I think one of the biggest things in this track that is worth noting is the way the vocals are presented. I wouldn't necessarily say that they are very clear and distinct and crisp, but it's still easy enough to unde...

Today we're heading towards the EDM and electronic side of music. I recently went to a show where Mat Zo was the headlining artists, and my goodness was I blown away. As an artist, Mat Zo has been known to dabble in genres that are kind of all over the place. Specifically though, he started out with trance music, and that is exactly the kind of show we got. Electronic music has taken on this interesting evolution, growing and shaping into different styles all the time. And there are definitely some things I love about the electronic music scene now, and there are definitely some things I am not a huge fan of as well. Now Mat Zo takes us back more old school. His set list was full of the progressive house and trance style we had around 2008. The pronounced beats, runway style sounds, and smooth synths to polish it off. I mean this show had everything! And I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed jamming out to the kind of electronic music which made me fall in love with the genre in...

Well, I'm back! It's been about a week or so since my last post, but I am so pleased about the music I am bringing to you going forward. This past week was South by Southwest, SXSW, which is a huge festival in Austin. For a week, we get to celebrate the most innovative and exciting new things coming up in technology, film, and music. I had the incredible opportunity to attend some of the SXSW Music events, and my goodness, it was spectacular. I've seen so many new artists and I am very excited to share these new players with you. So start off this exposé, we have an artist from New Zealand. Noah Slee is an artist who has been on my radar for a while, and I couldn't believe that he came to SXSW! Unfortunately, I was unable to see him perform, but that won't stop me from talking about his music. Noah Slee brought his cool soul to the SXSW stage, and I have to admit that Austin is so much better off by knowing his name. His musical style is not unfamiliar to us. N...

Today I have some music for you that may be a throwback for some, and a wave of nostalgic sounds for others. Basshunter. What can I say about the guy? His popularity has been an interesting trajectory and course. But somehow, his older work persists as a club classic. And it really has been a while since I listened to him or talked about him. Since I got a random listen recently, I thought it might be nice to take a trip down memory lane. So Basshunter is a phenomenal DJ and is incredible at pretty much every aspect of producing music. Every note and lyric is written by him. One thing which always used to make me chuckle a bit, are the lyrics. It's not that Basshunter is shallow with his lyrics. It's just so entertaining to hear how simple they are! For example, one of his songs is literally about playing a video game. Straightforward and to the point I suppose! But then again, I guess the focus for him is more the production and electronic aspect of the song. For this track...

Today I have a remix of a song by one of the most popular solo artists of the past few years. Ed Sheeran has developed quite a reputation for himself, of not only being a talented singer and songwriter, but of being a phenomenal aritst and musician. He is also one of the artists who seems to cross all boundaries. His music is often categorized as pop muic though he finds way to incorporate rapping into his work. For some songs, the delicate and beatiful instrumentation is set as a background to darker and and more melancholy lyrics. And though he is an English aritst, he has won an award for being the most influential artist in black music. It all goes to show that to Ed Sheeran, music is something that has no boundaries, no stereotypes, no definition tying it down. Now the thing I love about Ed Sheeran's music is that it has the ability to be interpreted and remixed in so many different ways, and this particular remix is done by Speaker of the House. I have to say that this is ...

Today I have some music for you by an artist that I've spent some time listening to in the past, but recently go back into. It isn't often that we get female rappers on the scene, and it's equally as rare to see female artists who perform like today's artist does. 070 Shake is one of the most unique artists out there. Now to be completely honest, I was a bit confused about the name of the group, thinking the lead rapper's name is 070 Shake. Just to clear things up, the female rapper is known as Shake and the rest of this contemporary rap group is 070. Hence the project's name. But this has to be one of the most interesting groups to listen to because of how different they sound. The group is led by female rapper Shake, who has a voice that is incredibly recognizable and almost trademark. Her lower register, baritone vocals spit out some of the grittiest and grimiest realities of life. And it is cool to be able to hear how vocals like that can give such an emot...

Today I have music for you by a band that goes by the name Clubfeet. This song has a really cool sound to it. When you feel like listening to indie style electronic music, this group is one that can satiate your desire, and do it with mad style. Clubfeet is a group which has such a smooth sound to it but the band falls on that psychedelic side of music as well. This song is one that is hard for me to describe because it sounds very familiar in the tonality and melodies but also sounds very original. The track has that independent and unique vibe and sounds that no one else can copy. I am a huge fan of the way the vocals are presented because it is done so with layers. It is never just one voice and one sound you hear from the vocals, but many harmonies and different ways of singing the same lines. Something about that is very much like Imogen Heap's style of vocal layering. I also like the fact that they do maintain the conventional band instruments while also incorporating all...

Today I have some new music for you by an EDM artist who likes to create music under the radar while still being at the forefront of some of the biggest EDM events around the world. Madeon is simply put, a master of electronic music. He is only 20 years old, yet has released albums, EP's and a plethora of singles and remixes. I have to say, he has quite the dossier and the extent to which he experiments with music is quite extensive. The thing about Madeon is that he has such a distinctive style that is completely his own. If I heard a song, I could tell you whether or not it is a Madeon song or not simply by his signature sound. This is where things can be a bit difficult though - his sound is something that is hard to put into words. There is this groove that surfs throughout the sound waves and a softer sound to the overall electronic work. Many electronic artists today have sharper, blunter electronic sounds and programming. But Madeon is a different story. Each note is someh...

Today I have some fun and bubbly music for you by an artist and producer out of Miami. GAWVI musical career has been really interesting to look at because of his work as a producer. One of the most notable hip-hop and rap producers within the Christian music world, GAWVI actually boasts a Grammy award for his production. Most of his work has been made popular by Lecrae, another really talented and incredible artist. But with today's song, we get something that is GAWVI and him only. This song is all him - the song lyrics, composition, and production. For starters, this is a really catchy track. There is an intoxication dance beat to the song which makes it so much fun and exciting to listen to. The song starts out with this really nice tropical percussion work. It's deep and resonates so nicely, making it a great base from which the rest of the song can be built upon. This song has some intricately layered synth work, but it all fits like clockwork. GAWVI did a good job of cr...

Today I have some music for you by one of my favorite bands of recent age, Bastille. I realized that it has been an extremely long time since I have posted a song by them, and  I thought I would share some of their magic. This song, in particular, is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. Both the musical composition and the lyrics are absolutely amazing. I am going to start with the instrumentation because the lyrics will take me a very long time to talk about. So when we are first introduced to this song, we hear the heavy drums. It almost sounds like marching mixed with a tribal sound. Actually, this song has a mystical sound to it which does include some tribal sounds. But this drum beat is so beautiful because I think it captures the intensity of what this song means. After these drum beats, we are launched into the song. Of course, Bastille gives us a beautiful choral sound in the background. But then Dan Smith starts singing, and the song changes. For the most p...

For some reason, today I couldn't get enough of electronic music. And so I figured, why not make today's post all about electronic music. But here's the plot twist. Today's electronic music isn't necessarily EDM. In fact, it borders more along the lines of funky house, with a lot of soul and groove thrown in. Chris Malinchak is the star of the day, with today's song also featuring the stunning vocals of one of my favorites, Mikky Ekko. Chris Malinchak got some acclaim with his first big song and I can see why. This guy has really great talent in instrumentation and song production. The style of this song is so funky smooth and has a great energy to it. This song sounds like what Michael Jackson hitting the electronic scene would sound like. Everything about this song captures the groovy disco and hip hop feel that Michael Jackson mastered and made his own. I could not stop dancing to this song no matter how many times I put it on repeat, and the song is so rem...

Today I have some wildly sick music for you. The band Sigur Rós is one of the most eclectic and hauntingly incredible bands I have ever heard. This is one of those bands that people seem to know about but also not know a thing about. Struggle, I know. But, for those of you who have never heard of  Sigur Rós or know the name but no songs, this is a special treat for you.  If there is one thing I have learned from my dabbles in literature, entertainment, and music, you really only get to experience these things for the first time once. I know it sounds so stupid, but when you think about it, the reality of that is there. You only get to experience something for the first time once. That elation and excitement and complete shock and utter bliss is something that you feel from experiencing something for the first time will never happen again once you have experienced it. So for those of you who are hearing Sigur Rós for the first time, I hope you really enjoy this first expos...

Today I've got some more new music for you by a DJ who became a worldwide sensation in such a short time. Martin Garrix has been an absolute monster in the music world. His music has been tearing up the charts, from his initial releases to now. And this new song by Martin Garrix definitely falls into that chart-busting category.  Martin Garrix changes his sound up in this song and takes a future bass approach, which I think is a great direction to go in. We get something that is softer and warmer from the music, instead of your typical louder and bass heavy electronic songs. This one airs on the side of being atmospheric and full of sound. It isn't about filling empty air with sound, rather, Martin Garrix tries to purposefully fill the air he has with carefully constructed sounds. He crafts the song very consciously in order to tell the story that the lyricists come up with. The structure of this song is centered on emotive storylines and moody synths to accompany.Mart...

Hello, everybody! It is so good to be back here writing about music! I spent the last week traveling and keeping really busy, which is why we had a bit of a hiatus. But, I'm back today, and it is all about getting funky and jazzy. Today's song comes from an artist that I've mentioned in the past.  Anderson Paak is a very eclectic artist, one who likes to combine differing styles to create something original and fun. This song is one that has this nice funky jazz to it, something that is like an old school groove with a modern twist. Anderson Paak has a strong command of his music, knowing exactly what sound he wants and exactly what words he wants to use. There is an incredible strength to his producing and songwriting skills, one that is impressive. Anderson Paak knows himself as a musician, and that can sometimes be hard to find. Even within his rapping style and cadence, there is strong confidence which comes from an artist who really knows how he...

Today I have some music for you by an artist who has become a sensation within the underground rap world. Logic is nothing short of genius. His music is moving and powerful, and Logic uses his music to be an activist. Masterfully crafted lyrics and beats, Logic creates music that is absolutely stunning and incredibly enticing. When it comes to rap, the genre has this incredible influence. From the beginnings during the 80s and the growth during the 90s, rap has been a conduit for politically and socially charged messages and lyrics. What I love about rap now, is that we are getting a resurgence of this evocative rap. For a long while, the focus of rap switched to more superficial and materialistic topics, which is something we still hear in rap today. The difference is, underground rap has taken hold of its rap roots, and has run with it. We hear two sides of the rap spectrum nowadays, and Logic airs towards the underground platform. As an artist, the focus of Logic's music cente...

Today I have some music for you by a DJ who has really started to mix it up with what kind of music he produces. Calvin Harris became popular with his upbeat and energizing pop songs, only to then follow suit by going on a bit of a quiet streak. While the man was still playing a few shows here and there, his presence in the "new music" game was pretty limited and unnoticed. Until now! Calvin Harris has been very busy in the studio, and has given the world some very interesting and different R&B electronic music. The latest album by Calvin Harris marks a transition for the DJ and producer. He is switching from the pop oriented and stereotypical radio dance song, into something that is more of a summery serenade. We are starting to hear this evolution into something that is breezy and even a bit tropical. Somehow, the man still is able to maintain this ease in his sound. Nothing feels forced or engineered, rather, it feels organic and fluid. Something that Calvin Harris h...

Today I have some new music for you by a band that has made a dramatic shift within the last month. OneRepublic has always been a band that is silently doing work and at all times. Whether they are in the studio, recording albums, or performing on tour, the band is always quite busy. Which is why the lead singer, Ryan Tedder, released a poignant letter to the public. He describes the time and energy and emotional toll that working as hard as the band does, took on him and the band. Because of this, OneRepublic has decided to shed the album idea from now on. The general idea is that the band releases songs whenever they feel like the song is ready. I t doesn't matter the genre or style, as long as the song is something the band can be proud of. Personally, I fully support this move by OneRepublic! I love it because it sends a message about music and the music industry as a whole. It cannot always be about the tours and consistent album churning. It is more about the m...

Today I have music for you by the duo known as He Is We and features the lovely vocals of Owl City. This song is a cute love song, one of those songs that make you smile because it is that adorable. This song has notable influences brought in by Owl City. That chime sound and the way some of the harmonies are done are very similar to the style that Owl City provides. It is quite lovely though! Because there are three vocalists, the chorus showcases really nice two-part harmonies to go along with the chorus. The vocals that Adam Young provides fit like puzzle pieces with the female vocalization. The female vocals are blusey and have a hint of country to it. However, Adam Young brings this special softness that only his voice has. It is a sound that can be passionate and energetic but still maintains this soft tenderness and slightly higher pitch. Usually, Owl City falls under some sort of electronic genre, but this song is completely acoustic. Adam Young blends in spectacular...